Recently, our Grade 6 class visited the Oakville Harbour Museum where we learned more about slavery based on our class reading of Barbara Smucker’s novel, Underground to Canada. Our tour guide told us about Oakville’s role in the underground railway and how Oakville, being a port town, was able to transport slaves on ships who were hidden in wooden boxes. We even got to experience what it would be like in these small and dark wooden crates.
Later, the Grade 6 class also watched a documentary about a slave called Deborah Brown who escaped to Canada. Next, we learned about the “Freedom Doors” which were the doors the slaves came through after reaching the port. Lastly, our class examined some wanted posters and looked at the qualities that were used to describe runaway slaves. All in all, the Grade 6’s had a thrill of a day at the Oakville Museum. Written by: Anudev, Grade 6 student
